April 25, 2007 - Justice4JPnews

Jonathan Pollard was honored at a Yom HaZikaron/Yom Ha'atzmaut ceremony and celebration at Mevo Choron this week (23 April 2007). The theme of the event at which Pollard was singled out for special honor was "V'Shavu Banim L'Gvulam" where tribute was paid to all of Israel's captives and MIAs. Mevo Choron is a large, pastoral community located between Jerusalem and Modi'in and is one of the oldest settlements in the Binyamin region.

Jonathan's wife, Esther, was invited to be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the event. Following a ceremony and torch-lighting event at Mevo Choron, the entire community proceeded to an adjacent windswept barren hilltop, Meirom Ayalon, for an outdoor banquet and ceremony. At Meirom Ayalon,
(which is about to be settled and built by Mevo Choron) a short video about Jonathan Pollard was screened and then Esther Pollard spoke. Esther shared a view of the Pollard case and of the fate of Israel's MIAs and Captives that was both novel and startling. The English translation of Esther Pollard's speech which was originally delivered in Hebrew, and her remarks at a torch-lighting ceremony which preceded the main event follow below.

Torch-Lighting Ceremony at Mevo Choron

Preceded by speeches honoring Jonathan Pollard and all of Israel's captives and MIAs, Esther Pollard was invited to light the memorial torch and make a brief statement. Here are her remarks:

"The culture of betrayal and abandonment, perpetrated by successive governments of Israel, one after the other, severely impacts upon the fate of our captives and MIAs.

"As we shall understand later tonight, the culture of betrayal and abandonment in Israel began in 1985 with the abandonment of my husband, Jonathan Pollard. Israel's leadership learned from their experience with Jonathan and went on to abandon soldiers, land, territories, collaborators, citizens, and countless others.

"I light the memorial torch this evening with the hope and prayer that HaShem will have mercy on our captives and MIAs and speedily return them home, healthy and whole, at once - and of course among them, my husband, Jonathan Pollard. "